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name: stripe-best-practices description: Guides Stripe integration decisions — API selection (Checkout Sessions vs PaymentIntents), Connect platform setup (Accounts v2, controller properties), billing/subscriptions, Treasury financial accounts, integration surfaces (Checkout, Payment Element), and migrating from deprecated Stripe APIs. Use when building, modifying, or reviewing any Stripe integration — including accepting payments, building marketplaces, integrating Stripe, processing payments, setting up subscriptions, or creating connected accounts.

Latest Stripe API version: 2026-02-25.clover. Always use the latest API version and SDK unless the user specifies otherwise.

Integration routing

| Building... | Recommended API | Details | |---|---|---| | One-time payments | Checkout Sessions | references/payments.md | | Custom payment form with embedded UI | Checkout Sessions + Payment Element | references/payments.md | | Saving a payment method for later | Setup Intents | references/payments.md | | Connect platform or marketplace | Accounts v2 (/v2/core/accounts) | references/connect.md | | Subscriptions or recurring billing | Billing APIs + Checkout Sessions | references/billing.md | | Embedded financial accounts / banking | v2 Financial Accounts | references/treasury.md |

Read the relevant reference file before answering any integration question or writing code.

Key documentation

When the user's request does not clearly fit a single domain above, consult:

• Integration Options — Start here when designing any integration.
• API Tour — Overview of Stripe's API surface.
• Go Live Checklist — Review before launching.